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Track the Journey of Harbor Porpoises

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Abstract

Have you ever wondered what life is like for different animals, and where it is that they roam? For example, how large is the area they live in, and why do they go to different locations? While we can set up cameras to watch animals that live on land, it can more challenging to see the lives of animals that live underwater, especially in the vast oceans. In this ocean science project, you will use satellite tracking data to learn about the activity patterns of harbor porpoises. How far do they travel? Can you find patterns in the routes individual animals take? Can you correlate their route with environmental factors such as currents or ocean temperatures? You can do this science project to answer these questions and find out more about the lives of these fascinating marine mammals.

Summary

Areas of Science
Ocean Sciences
Big Data
Space Exploration
Difficulty
Method
Scientific Method
Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites

Understanding of latitude and longitude, reading maps; Longer project times if monitoring currently tagged animals.

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost
Very Low (under $20)
Safety

No issues

Credits

By Beth Jewell, Einstein Distinguished Fellow, Office of Education, NOAA

Edited by Andrew Olson, Ph.D., and Teisha Rowland, Ph.D., Science Buddies

Science Buddies is committed to creating content authored by scientists and educators. Learn more about our process and how we use AI.

Objective

Determine whether there is a pattern to the movement of harbor porpoises and, if so, find out if the pattern correlates with certain currents, ocean temperatures, or other environmental factors.

Introduction

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all cetaceans (which are marine mammals that belong to the order Cetacea). Many members of this group have been classified as endangered or threatened because of human activities. Harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), like the one shown in Figure 1, below, are listed as threatened due to gillnet fishing methods in eastern Canada. It is estimated that nearly 1,000 harbor porpoises are killed each year due to the fishing methods used in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy (NOAA, November 2010). To better understand the harbor porpoises, and develop better conservation methods to help restore harbor porpoise populations, satellite telemetry is used to study the movements of harbor porpoises.

A harbor porpoise in the water

Figure 1. This is a picture of a harbor porpoise (Phocoeana phocoena). (Image credits: Erik Christensen, 2009)

The movements of harbor porpoises are studied by attaching small satellite transmitters to animals. Movement data emitted by the transmitters are downloaded from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellites to the ARGOS Global Processing Centre in Landover, Maryland. The data can then be accessed online. Researchers are able to collect more or less continuous information on the distribution and movement of the tagged porpoises.

In this ocean science project, you will use these online data to determine whether there is a pattern to the movement of harbor porpoises and, if so, find out if the pattern correlates with certain environmental factors. What triggers the movements of the harbor porpoises? Are they following food sources? Does the bottom topography or the motion of the currents guide them? Does temperature play a role? Or are they out there simply exploring the ocean? Get ready to check out some data to find out!

Terms and Concepts

Bibliography

The OBIS-SEAMAP website has data from archived satellite tagging projects, tracking maps, and information on how to interpret tagging data:

  • OBIS-SEAMAP (n.d.). OBIS-SEAMAP Dataset. Ocean Biodiversity Information System Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

The National Buoy Center has oceanographic data in real time:

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (December 11, 2013). National Data Buoy Center. Retrieved June 6, 2014.

Here is a resource on satellite tracking:

This webpage has links to information on marine mammals:

To do this science project, you will need to download bathymetric maps from the following webpage:

This publication includes statistics for how many harbor porpoises are seriously injured or killed due to fisheries:

Materials and Equipment

Experimental Procedure

Download PDF of Procedure
This project follows the Scientific Method. Review the steps before you begin.

The examples below take you through the process of making various tracking measurements for a single harbor porpoise. In order to test a hypothesis about porpoise movements, you will need to repeat the measurements for as many porpoises as possible.

Calculating Distances between Satellite Fixes

  1. Open the OBIS-SEAMAP Dataset. The map will show data from the Duke Harbor Porpoise Tracking. The dataset includes 5,938 records and a total of 22 tagged animals as indicated in the map summary section. Click on the hyperlinked number (22) next to the "Animals tagged/identified" in the map summary. A table will open that includes the records of all 22 animals. Check the box next to one of the Animal IDs to select an individual animal. We will choose animal "83_22914" for this example, which has a total of 37 records. In the map summary at the very bottom, check the box "Animal Tracks." Now you should see the track of your selected animal represented as datapoints connected with lines.
    1. Track Map: Zoom into the map to display the whole track. You will need to print this map out to use later. It shows the locations of animal "83_22914" where satellite fixes were made.
    2. Data Sheet: Click on the "Save" button at the bottom right of the data table and follow the instructions to download the data set. Download just the dataset or track displayed on the map, not the full dataset. You can either downlad a .csv file and import it into a spreadsheet program such as Excel or you can download a .kml file that you can open in Google Earth. The downloaded data includes a lot of information such as the time and latitude and longitude of each satellite fix on animal "83_22914". You will need to use this information with the Distance Generator.
  2. Open the Distance Generator. The Distance Generator page has a form where you can enter latitude and longitude data. The form will calculate the distance between the two points.
    1. From your downloaded data table, copy and paste the latitude and longitude from the first sighting of animal "83_22914" into the "From" box on the Distance Generator form. You might need to sort the data based on the observation data (obs_date column). The first observation point for animal "83_22914" should be 08/13/95.
    2. Repeat your steps for the "To" location.
    3. To calculate how far animal "83_22914" has traveled during this study, copy the latitude and longitude from the last entry (09/03/95) and paste this information in the To box.
    4. Click on the "Compute" button. Choose kilometers (km) as the unit for your result. The problem with this calculation is that it is as the crow flies and any side trips animal "83_22914" takes aren't taken into account. To be more accurate you will need to do the calculations between each sighting and add your results. You can also check the data table on the OBIS-SEAMAP, which includes all the 22 tracked animals. For each tracked animal there should be a column with total traveled kilometers (km).

Productivity and the Movement of "Gus"

  1. From the OBIS-SEAMAP Dataset, click on a harbor porpoise. Animal "83_22914" has been chosen for this example.
  2. On this page you will need to obtain data about "Gus" in two places: "Gus" Track Map and Productivity Map. Print both of these maps. Note that the redder colors on the Productivity Map indicate areas of higher concentrations of chlorophyll.
  3. Compare the two maps. Do you see any correlations between chlorophyll productivity and the location of "Gus"?

Bathymetry and the Movement of "Gus"

  1. From the OBIS-SEAMAP Dataset, click on a harbor porpoise. Animal "83_22914" has been chosen for this example.
  2. On this page you will need to obtain data about animal "83_22914" from the Track Map. Print this map.
  3. Download and print bathymetric maps from the National Ocean Service Bathymetric & Fishing Maps webpage for the same areas that the harbor porpoise moves in.
  4. When comparing the movement of animal "83_22914" with bathymetry (the depth of the ocean floor), do you see any correlations?
  5. What do your results tell you about how environmental factors might influence the movement of harbor porpoises?

icon scientific method

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Global Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

This project explores topics key to Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Variations

  • Use the map scale to estimate the total distance the harbor porpoise has traveled. What is the average daily distance it has traveled? What has its average daily speed (mph) been?
  • Do you see points on your tracking map which seem suspicious? Which ones, and how do you explain them?
  • Why is the harbor porpoise traveling along its current path? What environmental factors might influence the track? To answer this, you will need additional data. For example, you can look at buoy data for wind direction, speed, gust, significant wave height, swell and wind-wave heights and periods, air temperature, water temperature, and sea level pressure. Some buoys also report wave directions. You may also want to look at bathymetric maps to get an idea of the topography looks like below the surface.
  • Describe the movements of the harbor porpoise. By looking at its movements, can you tell if it is migrating, nesting, or feeding?

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Cite This Page

General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Track the Journey of Harbor Porpoises." Science Buddies, 20 Feb. 2026, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/OceanSci_p004/ocean-sciences/track-harbor-porpoises. Accessed 3 June 2026.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2026, February 20). Track the Journey of Harbor Porpoises. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/OceanSci_p004/ocean-sciences/track-harbor-porpoises


Last edit date: 2026-02-20

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